Ram tip securing arrangement

ABSTRACT

A ram shaft for a briquetting press having a removable shaft tip with the tip being secured to the shaft by a pair of wedge shaped members that extend through aligned passageways formed in the ram shaft and the tip member. When occupying one position, the wedges are effective to retain the removable tip in place. They may be reversed however and used to forcibly break the connection between the tip and the ram shaft.

United States Patent 1 Mitchell 1 May 29,1973

73] Assignee: Combustion v [54] RAM TIP SECURING ARRANGEMENT [75]lnventor: Robert Davis Mitchell, Solon, Ohio Engineering, Inc., Windsor,Conn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 213,315

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,393,130 1/1946 Toulmin..425/78 X 7/1946 Ashbaugh ..425/354 X 2,404,559 2,738,550 3/1956 Groves..425/352 3,070,003 12/1962 Stacy "425/415 X Primary Examiner-J.l-Ioward Flint, Jr. Attorney-Ham's G. Luther and Radford W. Luther [57]ABSTRACT A ram shaft for a briquetting press having a removable shafttip with the tip being secured to the shaft by a pair of wedge shapedmembers that extend through aligned passageways formed in the ram shaftand the tip member. When occupying one position, the.

wedges are effective to retain the removable tip in place. They may bereversed however and used to forcibly break the connection between thetip and the ram shaft.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENIEL W29 I975 3, 736 O 83 SHEET 1 0F 3FIG -5 PATENTELHAYZQ I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG 6 -36 54 FIG 7 FIG 8 PATENTEL3,736,083

SHEET 3 OF 3 RAM TIP SECURING ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBriquetting presses are employed to form dense briquettes of metalparticles such as shavings and borings so that this waste material maybe efficiently smelted and reused. Thesepresses conventionally employ aram shaft which cooperates with a suitable die and anvil to denselycompact the metal particles into a briquette. The ram shafts areprovided with a removable tip for this compacting operation with the tiptypically being replaced approximately every 2 days when a machine isoperated at normal capacity. It has been the practice to secure the tipsto the ram shafts by means of a threaded stud which is threaded ontocomplementary bores in both the ram shaft and the ram tip. Since boththe tip and the ram shaft are hardened, it has proved difficult toremove the tip for replacement necessitating the use of wrenches withextended handles and with it taking between 2 and 3 hours to change aworn tip and replace it with a new one. The present invention utilizesan improved and novel arrangement for securing the tip in place with thetime necessitated for making a tip change with the arrangement of thisinvention being approximately 20 minutes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the ram shaftis provided with an axial bore extending inwardly from the end of theshaft to which the tip is secured. The tip itself has a portion that hasa diameter equal to that of the ram shaft and another reduced diameterportion which extends into the bore in the ram shaft being somewhatshorter than the bore but generally complementary with the bore. Thisextended portion of the tip is provided with a transversely extendingpassageway through it and the ram shaft has a transversely extendingpassageway generally complementary with that extending through this tipportion. A pair of wedges are received in these transverse passages andare so arranged as to have engaging surfaces disposed at an angle to theaxis of the ram shaft and accordingly at an angle to the end walls ofthe transverse passages. The disposition of the wedges is such that inone position they are effective to securely fasten the tip onto the endof the ram shaft while in another position they are effective to causethe tip to move axially out of the ram shaft for a short distance tobreak the attachment of the tip to the ram shaft. The diameters of thebore and the extended tip portion are not uniform throughout but arearranged to permit easy withdrawal of the tip from the ram shaft. Thereis a device for effectively locking the wedges in their interengagingposition where they are effective to retain the tip onto the ram shaft.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedarrangement for securing the removable tip portion onto the end of theram shaft of a briquetting press.

This and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent when considered in view of the following detaileddescription and annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 through 5 are diagrammaticrepresentations of a briquetting press showing the sequence ofoperations of the press to produce metal briquettes.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the ram shaft and tip secured thereto.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally from line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the wedges of thesecuring arrangement in their reversed position with respect to that ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational side view of the wedge that contains thelocking recess.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view taken line l0--10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the locking tab that forms a part ofthe invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view taken from line 12-12 of FIG. 1 1.

from

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to designate likeelements, the diagrammatic representation of a briquetting press ofFIGS. 1 through 5 depicts the chip box 10 and the die 12 which are movedin unison through suitable hydraulic motors (not shown) to and from theposition shown in FIG. 1 where the die engages the anvil 14 and theposition depicted in FIG. 3 where the die is spaced from the anvil.Anvil 14 is secured to the stationary frame portion 16 of the press andin operation the chip box is maintained with a supply of metallic chipswhich are suitably tamped into the box by means of conventional tampingmechanism. The ram shaft 18 is positioned so that it passes through thechip box 10 as disclosed and is movable by means of suitable hydraulicmotors or the like (not shown) to and from its withdrawn position shownin FIG. 1 and its forward position shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly the ramshaft with the tip 20 secured to it is moved through the chip box intothe die 12 where the metallic chips are compacted into a relativelydense briquette 22.

The operation of the briquetting machine is as follows: The chip box anddie are moved into a position where the die engages the anvil 14 withthe ram shaft being in the position as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 depictsthe next step where the ram is moved laterally across the chip box andinto the die to form a compacted briquette. As shown in FIG. 3, the chipbox and die are then moved away from the anvil while the ram 18 remainsin position. The ram is then withdrawn as shown in FIG. 4 and thebriquette 22 falls to a suitable collecting device such as collectingbelt 24. The chip box and die then return to the position where the dieengages the anvil for a repetition of the cycle.

The tip 20 is secured to the end of the ram shaft 18 in a manner whichpermits the tip to be relatively quickly and easily changed. The tip isprovided with an axially extending portion 26 which is received within asuitable bore 28 in ram shaft 18. Bore 28 is axially positioned withrespect to the ram shaft and the inner region of the bore has a diameteridentified as 30 that is smaller than the diameter of the outer regionof the bore with this latter diameter being identified as 32. The regionof the bore intermediate the outer and inner regions has a diametergreater than that identified as 32 as best shown in FIG. 7. The axiallyextending portion 26 of tip 20 is provided at its extremities withdiameters generally corresponding with those identified as 30 and 32 toprovide a snug fit and with the region of this portion 26 intermediatethese extremities having a diameter less than that identified as 30.This arrangement provides for easy withdrawal or removal of the tip withthis being desirable because of the tendency to stick due to anaccumulation of metallic chips in confined areas. With the arrangementdepicted, whenthe tip is withdrawn the distance identified as 34, thetip is relatively free and can be easily further withdrawn and removed.

The ram shaft 18 and the extended portion 26 of tip are provided withgenerally aligned transverse passageways with the transverse passagewayprovided in ram shaft 18 being identified as 36 and that in extendedportion 26 being identified as 38. When the tip 20 is properlypositioned on the end of the ram shaft 18 the annular surface 40 of tip20 is in engagement with the annular surface 42 at the end of ram shaft18. When thus axially positioned and when in the proper rotativeposition, the transverse passages 36 and 38 will be in proper alignment.It is to be noted that the end walls 44 and 46 of passage 38 will thenbe located inwardly of the corresponding end walls 48 and 50 of passage36.

To secure the tip in place as shown in FIG. 7, wedge shaped members 52and 54 are utilized. Wedge shaped member 52 has a recess 56 as shownsuch that the end regions (or feet) of this member engage the end walls48 of passage 36 while recess 56 is spaced from end wall 44 of passage38. When the wedges are positioned as shown in FIG. 7 wedge 54 is drivendownward and the two wedges are then effective to firmly hold the tip 20in place on the ram shaft. It is noted that the surfaces 58 of member 52and the surface 60 of member 54 are complementary with the end walls ofpassages 36 and 38 with these surfaces and walls being semicylindricalin the depicted embodiment.

In order to lock the wedges in their tip securing position shown in FIG.7, there is provided a locking tab 62 which is of keyhole configurationas shown (FIGS. 11 and 12) which fits within a complementary shapedrecess 63 provided in the face of member 54 that engages member 52, withthis configuration preventing removal I of tab 62 when the wedges are inposition as shown in FIG. 7. The tab 62 may be secured to the member 54by means of screw 64 adapted to be received in threaded bore 65 inmember 54. The lower end of the tab extends below member 54 and when thewedge shaped members 52 and 54 are in place as shown in FIG. 7 the tabis then bent over the end of member 52 to prevent the wedges from movingrelative to each other.

To release the wedges 52 and 54 from the FIG. 7 position, locking tab 62is bent from its locking position,

' i.e. away from the lower end of member 52, and wedge 54 is driven upand out of the passages 38 and 36. Thereafter the wedge 52 is removedfrom these passages.

When it is desired to remove tip 20 from ram shaft 18 the wedges areremoved and reversely positioned as shown in FIG. 8. When in thisposition wedge 54 may be driven upwardly to break the tip 20 loose fromthe ram shaft 18. By means of wedge 54 the tip may be moved the distancedesignated 65 and thereby effectively break the tip loose.

It will be understood that the embodiment shown and described herein ismerely illustrative and that changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as claimed. Furthermore while the inventionhas been described in its preferred embodiment with relation to thesecuring of the removable tip on the end of the ram shaft of abriquetting press, the securing organization of the invention may beused in other and different applications where operating conditions arerather severe and it is desired to secure one member to another but beable to effect removal thereof when desired such as the holding ofpunches into tools for metal working and construction and the holding ofteeth on an edge of excavating devices.

What is claimed is:

1. In a briquetting press the combination comprising a cylindrical ramshaft member and a complementary tip member removably secured to saidshaft member said members having annular thrust flanges in engagementwhen said tip member is properly secured to said shaft member, means forremovably securing said members in operative relation comprising acylindrical projection extending from one of said members and receivedin a complementary bore in the other of said members with the extremeregions of the projection and bore being in snug fitting relation,aligned passageways transversely of the ram shaft extending through saidprojection and said other member, the dimension of the passagewayaxially of the ram shaft in the projection being less than in said othermember such that the corresponding end walls of said passageway in theprojection are located interiorly of the corresponding end walls of thepassageway in said other member when said annular thrust flanges are inengagement and a pair of wedges received in said aligned passagewayseffective to retain said tip member in operative position on the ramshaft with said wedges having complementary engaging surfaces inclinedtoward the axis of the ram shaft and in a plane transverse of the axiswith one wedge having an opposite surface engaging the end wall of thepassageway in the projection adjacent the inner end of the bore and theother wedge engaging the opposite end wall of the passageway in saidother member.

2. The organization of claim 1 wherein said other wedge has a relievedportion in its central region so that when said wedges are positioned toretain the tip in operative relation said central portion is spaced fromthe opposite end wall of the passageway in said projection.

3. The organization of claim 1 including means to lock said wedges inplace.

4. The organization of claim 2 including a recess in the surface of oneof said wedges that is in engagement with the other wedge and extendingto the small end of said wedge, means securing a locking tab in saidrecess said locking tab being bent over the end of said other wedge.

5. The organization of claim 4 wherein said recess is of a shape toprevent removal of the locking tab when said wedges are in theiroperative position to secure the tip to the ram shaft.

6. The organization of claim 1 wherein the extreme inner region of thebore has a diameter less than the extreme outer region.

7. The organization of claim 6 wherein the diameter of the projectionintermediate its extreme regions is substantially less than the diameterof the bore intermediate its extreme regions so as to provide an annularspace therebetween when said members are in operative relation.

8. The organization of claim 7 wherein the diameter of the projectionintermediate its extreme regions is less than the diameter thereof atits large end and the corresponding diameter of said bore is greaterthan its diameter at its small end.

9. The combination of a cylindrical ram shaft member and a removable tipmember secured thereto for use in a briquetting press including 'anaxially cylindrical projection formed on one of said members andreceived in a complementary bore provided in the other of said members,a passageway formed in said projection transversely of the ram shaftaxis and similar passageways formed in the annular region of said othermember surrounding said projection and aligned with said passageway insaid projection with the dimension of the passageway in the projectionaxially of the ram shaft being less than the corresponding dimension ofthe passageways in said other member so that the end walls of thepassageway in the projection lie inwardly of those of the passageway inthe other member, a pair of wedges received in said aligned passagewayseffective to retain the tip on the ram shaft and so formed that when thetip is secured in place the wedges have mating surfaces that are inengagement and inclined relative to the axis of the ram shaft with theopposite surface of one of the wedges being in engagement with the endwall of the passageway in said projection but spaced from thecorresponding end wall of the passageway in said other member and theopposite surface of the other wedge being oppositely disposed.-

10. The organization of claim 9 wherein said opposite surface of saidother wedge is relieved intermediate its regions so as to in effect forma pair of feet that engage the opposite end wall of the passageway insaid other member and with the region of this wedge intermediate thesefeet being spaced from the opposite end wall of the passageway in saidprojection.

1. In a briquetting press the combination comprising a cylindrical ramshaft member and a complementary tip member removably secured to saidshaft member said members having annular thrust flanges in engagementwhen said tip member is properly secured to said shaft member, means forremovably securing said members in operative relation comprising acylindrical projection extending from one of said members and receivedin a complementary bore in the other of said members witH the extremeregions of the projection and bore being in snug fitting relation,aligned passageways transversely of the ram shaft extending through saidprojection and said other member, the dimension of the passagewayaxially of the ram shaft in the projection being less than in said othermember such that the corresponding end walls of said passageway in theprojection are located interiorly of the corresponding end walls of thepassageway in said other member when said annular thrust flanges are inengagement and a pair of wedges received in said aligned passagewayseffective to retain said tip member in operative position on the ramshaft with said wedges having complementary engaging surfaces inclinedtoward the axis of the ram shaft and in a plane transverse of the axiswith one wedge having an opposite surface engaging the end wall of thepassageway in the projection adjacent the inner end of the bore and theother wedge engaging the opposite end wall of the passageway in saidother member.
 2. The organization of claim 1 wherein said other wedgehas a relieved portion in its central region so that when said wedgesare positioned to retain the tip in operative relation said centralportion is spaced from the opposite end wall of the passageway in saidprojection.
 3. The organization of claim 1 including means to lock saidwedges in place.
 4. The organization of claim 2 including a recess inthe surface of one of said wedges that is in engagement with the otherwedge and extending to the small end of said wedge, means securing alocking tab in said recess said locking tab being bent over the end ofsaid other wedge.
 5. The organization of claim 4 wherein said recess isof a shape to prevent removal of the locking tab when said wedges are intheir operative position to secure the tip to the ram shaft.
 6. Theorganization of claim 1 wherein the extreme inner region of the bore hasa diameter less than the extreme outer region.
 7. The organization ofclaim 6 wherein the diameter of the projection intermediate its extremeregions is substantially less than the diameter of the bore intermediateits extreme regions so as to provide an annular space therebetween whensaid members are in operative relation.
 8. The organization of claim 7wherein the diameter of the projection intermediate its extreme regionsis less than the diameter thereof at its large end and the correspondingdiameter of said bore is greater than its diameter at its small end. 9.The combination of a cylindrical ram shaft member and a removable tipmember secured thereto for use in a briquetting press including anaxially cylindrical projection formed on one of said members andreceived in a complementary bore provided in the other of said members,a passageway formed in said projection transversely of the ram shaftaxis and similar passageways formed in the annular region of said othermember surrounding said projection and aligned with said passageway insaid projection with the dimension of the passageway in the projectionaxially of the ram shaft being less than the corresponding dimension ofthe passageways in said other member so that the end walls of thepassageway in the projection lie inwardly of those of the passageway inthe other member, a pair of wedges received in said aligned passagewayseffective to retain the tip on the ram shaft and so formed that when thetip is secured in place the wedges have mating surfaces that are inengagement and inclined relative to the axis of the ram shaft with theopposite surface of one of the wedges being in engagement with the endwall of the passageway in said projection but spaced from thecorresponding end wall of the passageway in said other member and theopposite surface of the other wedge being oppositely disposed.
 10. Theorganization of claim 9 wherein said opposite surface of said otherwedge is relieved intermediate its regions so as to in effect form apair of feet that engage the opposite end wall of the passageway in saidoTher member and with the region of this wedge intermediate these feetbeing spaced from the opposite end wall of the passageway in saidprojection.